Jets: Harvin a good fit

The Jets made a bold trade for Percy Harvin yesterday, releasing wide receiver David Nelson in the process to make room.  Looking strictly at on-the-field performance, Harvin is a clear upgrade that better fits the Jets passing game.

Nelson is our lowest-graded receiver on the year (-10.7), due primarily to a lack of production. Ranked near the bottom of the league in our Yards Per Route Run signature stat, Nelson had only 65 receiving yards to show for 162 routes run. When the ball did come his way, the results weren't good.  On eight receptions he had two fumbles and a mere 6 yards after the catch.

Harvin, on the other hand, is a player who can take a short pass and turn it into a productive play, as 22 of Harvin’s 26 targets have been within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage.  For the Jets – with Geno Smith sporting a 78% completion rate on pass targets under 10 yards, and only 38% over 10 yards – Harvin’s abilities will fit in well.  Harvin’s skill running the ball (11 carries for 92 yards) should also help an offense that sometimes needs creativity to come up with yards.

With a more manageable schedule ahead, and end-of-season evaluations looming, this move should help the Jets offense continue to build some momentum during the second half of the season.